Device for preventing condensation of moisture on the exterior of flush tanks



Jan. 21, 1958 R. G. GOODBAR DEVICE FOR PREVENTING CONDENSATIONOF MOISTURE on THE EXTERIOR OF FLUSH mxxs Filed NOV. 3,, 1954 INVENTOR- Royal 6/en Goodb 0/".

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United. States Patent G DEVICE FOR PREVENTING CONDENSATION OF OISTURE ON THE EXTERIOR OF FLUSH Royal Glen Goodbar, Colfeyville, Kans.

Application November 3, 1954, Serial No. 466,631

2 Claims. (Cl. 236-12) This invention relates to flush type toilets and like devices where water is stored in a flush tank for flushing purposes. Such tanks are now usually constructed of vitreous materials and when the water that fills the tank is relatively cold, the walls of the tank are reduced in temperature to the dew point of the surrounding air. Consequently, the moisture in the air condenses on the surface of the tank and drips onto the floor causing unsanitary conditions. This process continues until the temperature approaches the room temperature, but where the toilet is flushed many times, the water and walls of the flush tank do not have suflicient time to reach the air temperature. Consequently, the condensation accumulates to aggravate the unsanitary conditions surrounding the toilet.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide means for automatically controlling the temperature of the water in the flush tank so that the temperature of the water is maintained above the dew point of the surrounding air.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a simple and inexpensive fitting that is readily inserted in the water supply line to the flush tank and connected with a source of warm water supply, whereby the temperature of the water supply is tempered to that which eliminates condensation on the walls of the flush tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective thermostat that is directly connected with both water supplies for supplying water to the flush tank at the desired temperature.

in accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a flush toilet equipped with a device embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is :a sectional view through the device showing the valve in open posit on for regulating the amount of warm water to be admitted to the flush tank.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the valve in closed position and when the cold water supply is at a high enough temperature to avoid condensation on the walls of the flush tank.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a conventional flush toilet having a tank 2 that is characterized by the ease with which the walls are chilled by the contained water to cause condensation thereon. The tank 2 is supplied with water from the usual cold water duct through a branch pipe 3, having a connection with a temperature control and mixing device 4 embodying the features of the present invention, and which is connected with a pipe 5 that is directly connected with the flush tank 2 as in conventional practice. The device 4 includes a shell 6, having an annular wall 7, a closed top 8, and an open bottom 9, that is covered by a removal head 10. The head has an externally Patented Jan, 21 1953 threaded portion 11 that engages an internally threaded portion 12 of the open lower end .and of the shell 6, to retain a control valve and thermostat assembly 13. The head 10 also includes an annular flange 14 that seats against a gasket 15 abutting the open end of the shell to provide a leak-tight joint. The head 10 has an internally threaded opening 16, that is coaxial with the shell 6 in which a check valve nipple 17 is threaded to connect :a warm water supply pipe 18. The nipple 17 has an inlet port 19 extending through a circumferential valve seat 20 that is formed in the bottom of a check valve chamber 21.

Positioned in the check valve chamber is a valve 22 which is adapted to engage the valve seat 20 to prevent backflow through the pipe 18, the valve 22 being retained within the valve chamber by a cross bar or stop 23 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The nipple 17 has external threads surrounding the valve chamber for engaging within the internal threads 16 and retaining an annular shoulder 24 on the nipple for sealing contact with the head ll).

The opposite end of the nipple has an internally threaded socket 25 to receive the threaded end 26 of the pipe 18. The shell 6 has an internally threaded opening 27 in the side wall 7 to secure a similarly constructed check nipple 28 by which the cold water pipe 3 is connected with the shell to admit cold water into an internal chamber 29 that is formed within the shell and which is adapted to accommodate a bellows 30 of the thermostat assembly 13.

The top 8 of the shell 6, has an internally threaded opening 31 in which a threaded end 32 of the pipe 5 is turned to make a tight connection with the shell. The thermostat assembly 13 includes a ring member 33 hav ing an annular flange 34 that is clamped between the threaded portion of the closure head 10 and an internal annular shoulder 35 that is formed by an annular flange 36 that extends inwardly from the wall 7. The ring 33 also includes an annular flange 37 which cooperates with the annular flange 34 in forming an annular valve seat 38 for seating a valving member 39 that is connected with the bellows 31 through a stem 40. The bellows is carried on legs 41, having foot portions 42, attached to the flange 34 so that when the water, surrounding the bellows, is at a temperature to prevent condensation on the walls of the flush tank, the valve 39 engages the seat 37 as shown in Fig. 3. However, when the temperature of the water admitted through the pipe drops to the point where it is apt to cause condensation on the walls of the flush tank, the bellows contracts to lift the valve 39 and allow warm water to enter the chamber 29 from the pipe 18 to mix with the cold water admitted through the pipe 3 and form a mixture having a sufiiciently high temperature to prevent cooling of the walls of the flush tank to a point where condensation is apt to occur thereon.

Assuming that the device is constructed and connected with the flush tank as above described, and that the lever 43 is operated to discharge water from the flush tank into the toilet, the water in the tank is replenished by the water entering the flush tank through the pipe 3 and the customary float controlled valve (not shown). It the water is at a low enough temperature to cause condensation on the walls of the flush tank, the contact of the water with the thermostat bellows effects unseating of the valve 36 so as to admit warm or hot water from the pipe 13 into the chamber 29 to mix with the cold water and provide a temperature high enough to eliminate possibility of condensation on the walls of the flush tank. The check valves 22 in the valve nipples 17 and 18 avoid possibility of passage of hot water into the cold water system, or passage of cold water into the hot water system in case the bellows should fail to function or in case the temperature of the water is sufiicient to hold the valve 6 in open position.

It is obvious that Whenever the water temperature surrounding the bellows 41 is sufiiciently warm to expand the bellows, the valve 39 seats to hold back the warm water until the temperature of the water admitted through the pipe 3 is again sufiiciently cold so that condensation might occur, in which case the contact of the water with the bellows causes contraction thereof and unseating of the valve 39 to admit warm water for mixture with the cold Water that is supplied to the flush tank.

' It is obvious that a device constructed and assembled as described will result infilling of the tank at all times with water at a temperature controlled by the bellows of the thermostat assembly and that the warm water is used only when the cold water is such as to cause contraction of the bellows. Therefore, the Water admitted to the flush tank is at all times above the dew point of the surrounding air and no moisture can accumulate on the walls thereof to cause the usual unsanitary conditions surrounding the toilet.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device for tempering water admitted to the flush tank of a toilet to prevent condensation of moisture on the exterior of the flush tank, said device including a casing having a main part comprising a surrounding wall and a closed end forming a chamber opening inwardly from the end opposite said closed end and having an internal annular shoulder within said open end, said closed end being provided with an outlet for tempered water, a valve seat ring seated on said internal shoulder, a bellows support extending into the chamber and carried by said valve seat ring, a temperature responsive bellows in said chamber and having one end attached to said support and the opposite end movable to and from the valve seat ring, said bellows cooperating with the surrounding Wall to provide an annular passageway about the bellows, said wall having a lateral cold waterinlet at a side of the bellows forfiow of cold water into direct encircling contact with the bellows, a valve carried by the movable end of the bellows to engage said seat ring under one temperature condition of the cold water and to be unseated upon contraction of the bellows under a lower temperature condition of the cold water, and a closure part fixed to the open end of the main part of the casing to retain the valve seat ring and having a hot water inlet, said valve when opened by the bellows providing an annular flow passage in connection with the annular passageway surrounding the bellows to admit hot water for mixing with the cold water encircling the bellows to raise the temperature of the cold water when the cold water is under said lower temperature condition.

2. A device for tempering water admitted to the flush tank of a toilet to prevent condensation of moisture on the exterior of the flush tank as described in claim 1, wherein said device includes a check valve in each of said inlets to prevent the back flow in case of a pressure drop in one of said inlets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,296,128 Weingarten Sept. 15, 1942 2,326,096 Dillman Aug. 3, 1943 2,455,144 Spencer Nov. 30, 1948 2,514,803 Schultz July 11, 1950 2,669,391 Kelsch Feb. 16, 1954 

